refugees

Immigrant students can now attend high school in Utica after a settlement agreement was reached with the district. The suit Tuyizere vs. Utica was filed by the New York Civil Liberties Union and Legal Services of Central New York last April on behalf of six students who were repeatedly denied enrollment in Proctor high school after months of letters, phone calls, and threats of litigation. Legal Services staff attorney Susan Young says the students had been placed in alternative programs in violation of state law that guarantees a free public education to anyone under 21.

About 50 refugees from Ethiopia took to the streets of Syracuse Friday to try and get the U.S. government to stop attacks against people in their homeland. People who fled violence years ago are seeing their relatives in danger. They're crying out to urge Washington to stop government backed violence in their African Homeland. Habiba Boru came to Syracuse 15 years ago to escape similar attacks.

As many as 1000 northside residents are expected to turn out for next week’s family Christmas party put on by the Butternut Community Police center. The success of 7th annual gathering illustrates just how much of a positive impact the center has on the lives of children in that neighborhood.

Nearly 100 Central New Yorkers crowded into the Empire Room at the state fairgrounds Friday to take the oath of allegiance to become citizens of the United States. They originate from 40 countries...from Bangladesh and Iran to New Zealand and Vietnam. 19-year-old Michael Malinowski of Syracuse came to the U.S.from Poland when he was 12. He says he’ll always have a place in his heart for his homeland, but is proud to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather who was with him Friday.

The Somali Bantu Community Association has received a $450,000 Federal grant to support self-sufficiency and provide employment services to the Somali Bantus, as well as other refugees in the Syracuse area. Self-sufficiency is a top priority for the association, which works to assist the refugees along their path toward becoming United States citizens.

Haji Adan, Executive Director of the association, says the group’s mission is to facilitate a successful transition to American life.

Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner today sent a letter to President Barack Obama formally extending her offer to use the City of Syracuse as a site for relocating Latin American children who have crossed the Southern border. In a release, she says the City of Syracuse is known for welcoming new immigrants and it currently is home a large population of refugees from across the globe. Miner says the City of Syracuse has been visited by representatives from federal agencies seeking to review a site for possible placement of migrant children. She says Federal officials have made it clear that the Department of Health and Human Services will pay for and provide all services for children through its network of grantees. Miner says before the children would be placed in Syracuse, they would undergo a well-child exam, tuberculosis testing, and a mental health screening. The mayor says children stay an average of 35 days while awaiting a hearing before an immigration magistrate and do not attend local schools. More information on this can be found on a page on the City’s website,www.syrgov.net/unaccompaniedchildren.